Apparatus for breaking wood waste into short pieces

ABSTRACT

A heavy duty pivoted jaw wood breaking unit is adapted to be positioned and operated by a cable operated or hydraulically operated shovel or another form of logging machine. The apparatus breaks logging slash, tree tops, limbs and other windfalls into short sections which can be buried and scattered to substantially reduce the danger of fire. The broken material will also decompose faster than the usual large logs.

United States Patent [191 Cox 1451 March 6, 1973 APPARATUS FOR BREAKINGWOOD 1,779,702 10/1930 Harrington ..294/112 WASTE INTO SHORT PIECES2,452,452 10/1948 Gimus ..294/112 3,089,726 5/l963 Tourneau ..294/lll XInventor: Ernest BOX 154, L010, 3,327,745 6/1967 Meece etal ..144/34 EMont. 59847 Prima Examiner-Frank T. Yost 22 F1 1; A 1 1 e ug 1971Attorney-Lawrence L. Colbert [21] Appl. No.: 170,042

[57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S.Cl. ..225/97, 144/3 D, 144/34 E, A h vy y pi ejaw wood breaking unit is 225/104 adapted to be positioned and operatedby a cable 51 1111.01. ..B26f 3/00 Operated or hydraulically OperatedShovel or another [58] Field of Search ..225/97, 104, 103, 105; form oflogging machine- The apparatus breaks 144/3 D, 3 p 34 83/599; 294/111112 logging slash, tree tops, limbs and other windfalls into shortsections which can be buried and scattered to [56] References Citedsubstantially reduce the danger of fire. The broken material will alsodecompose faster than the usual UNITED STATES PATENTS large logs-954,773 4/1910 Armstrong ..225/104 10 Claims, 5 Drawing FiguresPATENTEUUAR 61915 3,719,314

SHEET 1 BF 2 8 as v 5 Q r nun mm Q 1 INVENTOR I ERN EST F. COX

APPARATUS FOR BREAKING WOOD WASTE INTO SHORT PIECES The invention hereinarises as a result of a need for some means to readily break up loggingslash and other wood waste and windfalls into short pieces of abouteighteen inches in length. Such broken pieces can be buried andscattered and will readily decompose. The customary practice indisposing of accumulated wood waste in the construction of logging roadsand the like is to windrow the waste in rather long pieces at the toe ofthe road. This practice is no longer acceptable to the Forest Servicebecause of fire hazard. Furthermore, the windrowing and burning of slashis being challenged by the environmentalists and clean air advocates.Burying the slash at the toe of the road is not a success since it isusually in sections which are too long to be arranged properly.

The present invention overcomes most of the above difficulties throughthe provision of a simplified, practical, reliable and economicalapparatus for the disposal of wood slash by breaking the same into smalllengths. By this practice, much of the wood can be buried easily and theremainder scattered. Burning is eliminated with resultant reduction offire danger and large unsightly windrows of waste wood are done awaywith. The short pieces of waste wood will decompose much more quicklythan large pieces.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring the course of the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a side elevation of anapparatus for breaking logging slash and other waste wood into smallsections according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus taken on line 2-2 of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view showing a modification of theinvention employing hydraulic operating means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein likenumerals designate like parts, the wood breaking apparatus comprises amain rigid frame of sturdy construction and a cooperating interior frame11 pivoted to the main frame 10 by a transverse through shaft 12, asindicated in the drawings. While the size of the apparatus may be variedsomewhat, the contemplated overall dimensions for the frame 10 areapproximately 5 feet in width and 10 to 12 feet in overall height. Onsuch a scale, the apparatus will weigh approximately 6 tons. Thesenon-critical size factors are mentioned to emphasize the heavy dutynature of the apparatus which is capable of breaking a fairly largesized log L into small pieces approximating 18 inches in length with nodifficulty. The apparatus does not cut the log but actually breaks orsnaps the same as one would break a matchstick by hand.

The main outer frame 10 has a pair of side arms 13 and a center parallelintermediate arm 14. The top of the arm 14 is rigidly secured to asturdy cross brace 15 by welding or the like, the cross brace beingjoined to the tops of the side arms 13. The lower extremities of thethree arms 13 and 14 are curved in the same direction forwardly toprovide three relatively stationary rigid wood breaking jaws 16 whichare equidistantly spaced apart and are all of the same thickness andlength. Preferably, the frontal edges 17 of the jaws 16 are beveled andsharpened, as shown.

The top of the frame 10 has converging arm extensions 18 terminating attheir tops in short upstanding parallel sections 19 which support theaxle 20 of a compound sheave 21, preferably having six or more sections.Above the sheave 21 is a bracket extension 22 on the main frame 10 whichsupports a first guide pulley 23. A second guide pulley 24 is similarlysupported on a forward bracket extension 25 of the main frameimmediately under the bracket extension 22.

The components making up the main frame 10 form an assembled unit in theapparatus and the interior frame 11 and the parts associated therewithconstitute the second principal unit of the apparatus.

The frame 11 has a pair of parallel sides 26 disposed midway between thearms 13 and 14 and these sides are rigidly joined at their rear ends bya right angular cross bar 27, so as to constitute the U-shapedstructure. The forward extremities of the sides 26 are shaped and curvedreversely to the jaws 16 to produce on the frame 11 a pair of swingableopposing wood breaking jaws 28 which cooperate with the jaws 26 to breakthe wood or log section cleanly into short lengths. The wood engagingedges of the jaws 28 are also preferably sharpened as at 29, FIG. 1. Thetwo jaws 28 operate midway between the pairs ofjaws 16, FIG. 2, so thatthe log L will be broken into sections of approximately equal length.

To maintain the sets of jaws 28 and 16 properly spaced laterally on theaxis of pivot shaft 12, tubular spacers 30 are mounted on the shaft 12between sleeve bearings 31 which are provided on the sides 26 of frame11 and on the arms 13 and 14 of the main frame 10 for adequate strengthand stability. These several sleeve bearings collectively make up a wideand longlasting bearing surface between the frames and pivot shaft 12.The bearings 31 may contain any desirable linings or bushings, ifdesired. The parts assembled on the pivot shaft 12 are secured near theends of the shaft by suitable pins 32 which are removable when required.

The entire wood breaking apparatus is adapted to be bodily suspendedfrom the boom 33 of a cable operated power shovel or some similar pieceof equipment. A main suspension cable 34 leads from one winch drum ofthe power shovel, not shown, to a forward guide sheave 35 on the boom 33and from this sheave downwardly and under and over the two guide pulleys23 and 24 on the main frame 10. Near the center of the frame 10, FIG. 2,the cable 34 is divided at a ring 36 or the like into two divergingbranch cables 37 whose lower ends are secured to the jaws 28 forwardlyof the shaft 12, as indicated at 38. The cable 34 serves the dualfunction of swinging the two jaws 28 open or away from the coacting jaws16 and of suspending the entire apparatus from the boom 33 so that itmay be positioned properly relative to the wood to be broken. A pair ofshort cables 39 are provided for limiting the opening movement of theframe 1 l and jaws 28 relative to the frame and jaws 16, the maximumdegree of opening being shown in full lines in FIG. 1 where the cables39 are taut and the frames 10 and 1 1 are approximately at right angles.The frame 11 in FIG. 1 is illustrated in broken lines in the pivotedclosed position as when the log is being broken. The degree of closingof the jaws during operation of the apparatus is a variable dependingupon the thickness of the log and the amount of pressure which must beapplied before it breaks. The frame 11 can move from the right angularposition in FIG. 1 to a near vertical position, if required.

Mounted centrally upon the rear cross bar 27 of frame 11 is a coactingcompound sheave 40 having an axle 41 held in suitable brackets 42 on thebar 27, as shown. The sheave 40 has the same number of sections as thepreviously-described compound sheave 21. Another cable 43 extending froma second winch drum of the power shovel passes around a second guidepulley 44 on the nose of the boom 33, FIG. 2, and then passes downwardlyand is looped around the multiple sections of the compound sheaves 40and 21 in succession and has one end anchored at 45 to the top of themain frame 10 by conventional means. The function of the cable 43 in theapparatus is to apply pressure for closing the jaws 28 relative to thejaws 16 by swinging the frame 11 upwardly on the opposite side of thepivot shaft 12. When the operating cable 43 is reeved in by the winch ofthe machine, tremendous pressure is applied to the log through the jaws28 and 16 with a scissor-like action because of the well-known forcemultiplying effect of the compound sheaves and the cable looped thereon.The apparatus can very easily snap or break almost any waste wood whichit encounters in a typical application of the apparatus. As previouslystated, the apparatus is characterized by simplicity and ruggedness,economy and reliability. It requires a minimum of maintenance and islong-lasting and to a great extent solves the problem of disposing ofwood waste in an acceptable manner.

FIG. 5 depicts a slight modification of the apparatus wherein thecoacting jaws 46 and 47 corresponding to the jaws l6 and 28 are operatedby hydraulic means instead of by cable means as on a hydraulic shovel.The entire apparatus may be extended from the shovel boom by asuspension cable 48 which is employed to lift and position the apparatusas in the prior embodiment. In the modification, the jaws 46 and 47 arepivoted through a shaft 49 and an upward reversely directed extension 50of the frame carrying the three relatively stationary jaws 46 is pivotedat 51 to the cylinder end of an extensible and retractable hydraulic ram52 which is conventionally powered from a pump on the shovel and hasconventional double-acting fittings. The rod 53 of this ram is pivotedat 54 to an extension 55 on the framework carrying the two jaws 47.Except for the hydraulic actuating means, the use or operation of theapparatus for breaking wood is essentially the same as in the priorembodiment and no further detailed description of the apparatus in FIG.5 is deemed to be necessary for a proper understanding of the same.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shownand described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, andthat various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scopeof the subjoined claims.

l claim:

1. Apparatus for breaking waste wood comprising a main frame havingsuspension means enabling the apparatus to be lifted, transported andpositioned relative to waste wood, plural laterally spaced rigid woodbreaking jaws on the main frame, a secondary frame, means pivotallyinterconnecting the main and secondary frames in a prescribed laterallyspaced relationship, plural wood breaking jaws on the secondary frameand pivoting therewith relative to the main frame and fixed jaws andfacing opposite to the fixed jaws and spaced laterally intermediate thesame so that a long section of wood engaged by the fixed and pivotingjaws will be broken cleanly into multiple short lengths, and power meansinterconnecting the main and secondary frames and operable to pivot thesecondary frame relative to the main frame with a scissor-like action.

2. The structure of claim 1, and said main and secondary frames beinggenerally U-shaped in configuration, the secondary frame disposedinwardly of the sides of the main frame and the main frame having an armand rigid jaw disposed substantially at the center of the secondaryframe, said frames being pivotallyconnected by a through shaft whichextends through the sides of the main and secondary frames and throughsaid arm.

3. The structure of claim 2, and said jaws of the main frame andsecondary frame being substantially equidistantly spaced apart laterallyand being longitudinally curved in opposite directions so that a sectionof wood to be broken into short lengths can be gripped by the opposingjaws and having breaking pressure applied thereto without slippingrelative to the jaws.

4. The structure of claim 3, and the wood engaging edges of all of saidjaws being sharpened.

5. The structure of claim 2, and bearing sleeves on the sides of themain and secondary frames and on said arm and being in axial alignmentand receiving said through shaft, and spacer elements on the throughshaft intervened between the bearing sleeves to maintain a fixedapproximately equal lateral spacing of said rigid and pivoting woodbreaking jaws.

6. The structure of claim 1, and said power means comprising compoundsheaves on the main and secondary frames and on the side of the pivotaxis of the frames remote from the wood breaking jaws, and a jaw closingforce multiplying cable trained over the compound sheaves and extendingremotely from the apparatus to a winch means or the like.

7. The structure of claim 6, and said suspension means for the mainframe comprising a suspension cable having a connection with thesecondary frame on the jaw side of said pivot axis, said suspensioncable also serving to open the pivoting jaws relative to the fixed jawsof the main frame.

8. The structure of claim 7, and another cable means interconnectingsaid main and secondary frames to limit the separating pivotal movementof the jaws to a point where said frames are approximately at rightangles.

9. The structure of claim 6, and bracket means on the rear end of thesecondary frame and the top of the main frame supporting said compoundsheaves,

whereby the cable engaging the sheaves extends diagonally between thetwo frames and operates the jaws thereof with a scissor-like action tobreak wood.

10. The structure of claim 1, and said power means comprising a fluidpressure operated extensible and 5 retractable ram interconnecting themain and secondary frames on one side of the pivot axis thereof.

1. Apparatus for breaking waste wood comprising a main frame havingsuspension means enabling the apparatus to be lifted, transported andpositioned relative to waste wood, plural laterally spaced rigid woodbreaking jaws on the main frame, a secondary frame, means pivotallyinterconnecting the main and secondary frames in a prescribed laterallyspaced relationship, plural wood breaking jaws on the secondary frameand pivoting therewith relative to the main frame and fixed jaws andfacing opposite to the fixed jaws and spaced laterally intermediate thesame so that a long section of wood engaged by the fixed and pivotingjaws will be broken cleanly into multiple short lengths, and power meansinterconnecting the main and secondary frames and operable to pivot thesecondary frame relative to the main frame with a scissor-likeaction.
 1. Apparatus for breaking waste wood comprising a main framehaving suspension means enabling the apparatus to be lifted, transportedand positioned relative to waste wood, plural laterally spaced rigidwood breaking jaws on the main frame, a secondary frame, means pivotallyinterconnecting the main and secondary frames in a prescribed laterallyspaced relationship, plural wood breaking jaws on the secondary frameand pivoting therewith relative to the main frame and fixed jaws andfacing opposite to the fixed jaws and spaced laterally intermediate thesame so that a long section of wood engaged by the fixed and pivotingjaws will be broken cleanly into multiple short lengths, and power meansinterconnecting the main and secondary frames and operable to pivot thesecondary frame relative to the main frame with a scissor-like action.2. The structure of claim 1, and said main and secondary frames beinggenerally U-shaped in configuration, the secondary frame disposedinwardly of the sides of the main frame and the main frame having an armand rigid jaw disposed substantially at the center of the secondaryframe, said frames being pivotally connected by a through shaft whichextends through the sides of the main and secondary frames and throughsaid arm.
 3. The structure of claim 2, and said jaws of the main frameand secondary frame being substantially equidistantly spaced apartlaterally and being longitudinally curved in opposite directions so thata section of wood to be broken into short lengths can be gripped by theopposing jaws and having breaking pressure applied thereto withoutslipping relative to the jaws.
 4. The structure of claim 3, and the woodengaging edges of all of said jaws being sharpened.
 5. The structure ofclaim 2, and bearing sleeves on the sides of the main and secondaryframes and on said arm and being in axial alignment and receiving saidthrough shaft, and spacer elements on the through shaft intervenedbetween the bearing sleeves to maintain a fixed approximately equallateral spacing of said rigid and pivoting wood breaking jaws.
 6. Thestructure of claim 1, and said power means comprising compound sheaveson the main and secondary frames and on the side of the pivot axis ofthe frames remote from the wood breaking jaws, and a jaw closing forcemultiplying cable trained over the compound sheaves and extendingremotely from the apparatus to a winch means or the like.
 7. Thestructure of claim 6, and said suspension means for the main framecomprising a suspension cable having a connection with the secondaryframe on the jaw side of said pivot axis, said suspension cable alsoserving to open the pivoting jaws relative to the fixed jaws of the mainframe.
 8. The structure of claim 7, and another cable meansinterconnecting said main and secondary frames to limit the separatingpivotal movement of the jaws to a point where said frames areapproximately at right angles.
 9. The structure of claim 6, and bracketmeans on the rear end of the secondary frame and the top of the mainframe supporting said compound sheaves, whereby the cable engaging thesheaves extends diagonally between the two frames and operates the jawsthereof with a scissor-like action to break wood.